| A | B |
|---|
| Why is the island that Karana lives on called the “Island of the Blue Dolphins?” | It is shaped like a dolphin |
| Why do the Russians and Aleuts come to the island at the beginning of the novel? | to hunt otter |
| What is the hunting arrangement that is mutually agreed upon by Captain Orlov and Chief Chowig? | they will give the villagers half the otter as well as chests of beads |
| Why does the Chief not want his people to visit the hunters in their village or otherwise befriend them? | he doesn't trust them, and he remembers what happened when they came to the island in the past |
| What “good fortune” falls upon the village of Ghalas-at while the Aleuts and Russians are there? | a school of white bass gets trapped close to the shore |
| How do the Aleuts and Russians respond to the village’s “good fortune?” | they demand that the villagers share |
| Why is Karana angry about all the otter being killed? | they are her friends |
| Do the Aleuts and Russians live up to their side of the previously arranged agreement? | No |
| Why do the villagers get in a battle with the Aleuts and Russians? | because they don't live up to their end of the agreement |
| What happens to Chief Chowig in this battle? | he is killed |
| Who takes Chief Chowig’s place as leader of Ghalas-at? | Kimki |
| Where does Kimki decide to go, and why does he go? | East, to look for a new place for the villagers to live |
| Who sends the ship of white men that came to the island to rescue the villagers? | Kimki |
| Who is left behind when everyone went to the ship? | Ramo |
| Why does Karana jump off the ship? | because Ramo is still on the island |
| How does Ramo die? | killed by wild dogs |
| What did Karana do to all of the houses in the village | burned them down |
| Why does Karana decide to leave the island and go east? | to find the place where the rest of her villagers went |
| How did Karana fix the leak in the canoe? | used some fiber from her skirt |
| Why did Karana choose to go back to the island? | the canoe was leaking and she was more likely to make it back to the island than to the land in the East |
| What animals did Karana believe were a good omen? | dolphins |
| What were women of Ghalas-at forbidden to make? | weapons |
| What happened to Rontu when he tried to bite the giant devilfish? | the devilfish wrapped its tenticles around him and injured him |
| What is another name for a devilfish? | octopus |
| What does Karana see in the Black Cave that scares her? | a skeleton playing a flute |
| How does Karana get trapped in the Black Cave? | the high tide traps her |
| Why didn’t Karana shoot the wild dogs that were fighting Rontu? | it was Ronut's fight, and she knew they would fight again if she stopped the fight |
| Who is Tutok? | an Aleut girl who came to the island with the Aleuts |
| Why is Karana afraid to talk to Tutok at first? | she thinks Tutok will tell the Aleuts where she is |
| How does Rontu die? | old age/natural causes |
| What two new pets does Karana find? | two birds |
| What does Karana do to her new pets so that they won’t leave her? | clips their wings |
| What other animal does Karana befriend? | an otter named Mon-a-nee |
| Why does Karana believe that one of the young wild dogs was Rontu’s son? | he has yellow eyes like Rontu |
| How does Karana catch Rontu-Aru? | makes a mixture of tobacoo |
| What does the name Rontu-Aru mean? | son of Rontu |
| What two different natural disasters does Karana live through? | tsunami and earthquake |
| According to Karana, what item is the “biggest loss” in the last natural disaster? | the canoes |
| Why did the men make Karana a different dress to wear? | they thought what she was wearing was inappropriate |
| What did the markings mean that Karana put on her face before she left with the men? | that she was unmarried |
